Chapter 77

Chapter 77

As the year drew to a close, household chores began piling up.

Preparations for New Year gifts to relatives were underway. This year, in addition to Fourth Uncle and Third Aunt, gifts also needed to be sent to the maternal uncle’s family. They hadn’t interacted in previous years, but since this was the first year of renewing ties, Wang Ying planned to prepare generous gifts. She intended to have Qing Yan and Qing Song personally deliver them.

For Fourth Uncle’s family, as usual, they prepared local mountain goods. This year, they also added dried fruits and homemade grape wine.

In autumn, Wang Ying harvested all the grapes from the experimental field and made ten jars of grape wine. The process was simple: layer grapes and sugar, seal it, and let it ferment naturally.

The finished wine was filtered through fine hemp cloth. It had a sweet and sour taste with just a hint of alcohol, making it delicious without causing light-headedness even if consumed in large quantities. Two jars were given to each family, while the remaining four were reserved for the New Year celebrations.

In the evening, Wang Ying took Chen Qingyan to the experimental field to count the stored copper coins.

They had saved quite a bit over the year. Since Little Yuanbao was born, Li Shi no longer had time for temple visits, which saved a significant amount of money.

Daily expenses for food, clothing, and other necessities were covered by the shop’s earnings, while the rent collected from the estate was entirely saved. In total, they had saved over a hundred strings of coins in a year.

Combined with previous savings, the gifts received during the child’s month-old celebration, and the imperial reward from the court, they now had around five hundred strings of coins.

As they counted, they re-strung the loose coins and neatly arranged them in a box.

Chen Qingyan exclaimed in surprise, “We have this much money?”

“This isn’t really a lot. I’ve heard that in the capital, land is extremely expensive. Buying a two-courtyard house would cost over a thousand taels.”

“But we’re not moving to the capital. Why would we buy a house there?”

Wang Ying closed the box and sat on it. “You never know. What if you ace the imperial exams and get assigned to the capital? Wouldn’t we all have to move there?”

Chen Qingyan laughed. “Acing the exams isn’t that easy. I’m somewhat confident about becoming a *xiucai* (scholar), but I’m not sure about passing the *juren* (provincial-level exams) on the first try.”

“Don’t say that in front of Old Liang, or he’ll be so angry he might thrash you.”

“I wouldn’t dare. I was just saying it casually. I’ll still work hard for the exams and not let him lose face.”

“Don’t pressure yourself too much. Just do your best. Remember, there’s always someone better. Many candidates have been groomed since childhood, and ordinary people can’t compare.”

Chen Qingyan sat down beside her. “I’ve also heard that students in Suzhou start their education at four and some even pass the *tongsheng* (child scholar) exam by ten. Moreover, the number of *xiucai* from Suzhou far exceeds those from the north. Last year alone, I heard Suzhou county produced over twenty *xiucai*, while our Longquan County only had four.”

Wang Ying was surprised. “That big of a difference?”

“That’s actually on the lower side. During the Metropolitan Examination in the ninth year of Tianhe, 467 candidates passed. How many do you think were from the north?”

“One hundred sixty?”

Chen Qingyan waved his hand. “Eighty-three.”

“So few!”

“The disparity was so significant that candidates nationwide once protested. However, after the court publicly compared the exam papers, it became clear that the southern candidates were indeed academically stronger. The matter was eventually dropped.”

“The cultural environment in the south is rich. With institutions like the White Horse Academy, which has existed for six dynasties, the Green Bamboo Academy with its renowned scholars, and the Duchuan School in Suzhou, the scholarly environment is far superior. Many wealthy families even send their children there to study.”

Wang Ying sighed. “It’s really your and Qing Song’s luck to have met Old Liang.”

“Yes.” Chen Qingyan often reflected on this. If he hadn’t been disqualified from the exams back then, he might have only managed to become a *xiucai* at best through his own efforts. He wouldn’t have had the opportunities that followed.

It was because he and Old Liang shared similar experiences that the latter traveled a long distance to teach him and help clear his name, without seeking any monetary or other rewards.

“This is truly a turn of fortune after extreme adversity.”

After counting the coins, Wang Ying harvested the ripe vegetables and fruits from the experimental field. She cleared the withered plants with a single command and sowed new seeds.

The experience progress for the experimental field remained stuck at 11%. It seemed that hugging and kissing no longer contributed much to the experience points. Even intimate acts added very little. Wang Ying suspected that the conditions for leveling up had changed after reaching level five, but she hadn’t yet figured out the pattern.

*

With less than half a month left until the New Year, the village was filled with festive spirit.

When Dun Zi went to town to deliver vegetables, Wang Ying asked him to bring back some firecrackers. The New Year ought to be lively and bustling.

On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, they bought two pigs and a sheep from the village. On the day of the slaughter, many people came to help. Wang Ying stewed a large pot of meat and invited all the helpers to stay for a meal at noon.

The harvest this year had been good, and the villagers were better off. With surplus grain, people were less irritable. No one fought over the meat. “When granaries are full, people learn propriety.” One had to admire the wisdom of the ancestors, who summarized this truth a thousand years ago.

On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, Cao Kun delivered New Year gifts.

The vegetable business had done well this year. As the only supplier in the entire county, they sold at last year’s prices and earned over thirty strings of coins in a month—a shockingly high profit.

This success attracted envy and trouble. Fortunately, Cao Kun had made many friends during his time at the Porter Guild, including some people of influence who spoke up for him, ensuring no one dared cause further trouble.

The Cao family’s vegetable shop had firmly established itself in the county.

Li Shi pulled him aside to ask about Lin Qiu and the child. “I couldn’t make it to the month-old celebration. How are Qiu Er and the baby?”

“They’re both doing well. Xiaomai eats and sleeps a lot and has gained three or four pounds since the first month.”

“That’s good. A sturdy child is less prone to illness. It’s cold now, so make sure both the child and adults stay warm. When it gets warmer next year, bring Qiu Er and the child back for a visit.”

“Sure, will do!”

At noon, they prepared hot pot. The family gathered around a large table with two pots—one with tomato broth and the other with a spicy broth flavored with medicinal pepper.

The dipping sauce was made of thick sesame paste, garnished with coriander and scallions. The taste was simply delightful!

The children ate until they were stuffed. Old Liang also ate quite a bit. As he was older, too much meat could cause indigestion. Wang Ying specially prepared hawthorn soup for him to aid digestion after the meal.

Little Yuanbao, unable to eat meat, drooled with envy. Li Shi picked out some soft, fatty meat and fed him a little. The child loved it, his mouth glistening with oil, and he kept asking for more.

Li Shi fed him a few more bites, but that evening, he suffered from an upset stomach, with oily streaks in his stool. His tummy was still underdeveloped, and the rich food was too much for him to process. The poor child cried incessantly, and Li Shi, holding him, felt both heartbroken and guilty, vowing never to feed him indiscriminately again.

*

Soon, it was New Year’s Eve. Early in the morning, everyone began hanging peach wood charms.

It was not yet customary to put up couplets on doors, as paper was expensive and red paper especially scarce. It was only used sparingly for celebrations.

Peach wood charms were carved with images of the gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei, brothers known for their power to subdue ghosts. Hanging their likenesses on doors was believed to ward off evil and bring good luck.

The peach wood charms they hung were not bought but gifted by an old carpenter in the village, who had carved and delivered them days earlier.

The old carpenter was skilled, and his carvings could be considered works of art. The figures were vivid and lifelike, making a striking display on the main gate.

Old Liang did not spend the New Year with his son’s family this year. The weather was cold, with heavy snows one after another, and the long journey was risky for his health.

Besides, Old Liang had no intention of going. Last year’s celebration there had been dull, and he missed Wang Ying’s delicious cooking.

After the noon meal, the men went to offer sacrifices at the ancestral graves. The Chen family graves were located on a hill near the estate, where Chen’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were buried.

When Chen Qingyan's father was still alive, he would personally come to pay homage at the graves every year. After his passing, Chen Qingyan fell seriously ill shortly after, so in recent years, Uncle Chen has been the one to burn incense and offer sacrifices.

The mountain snow was over a foot deep, with each step sinking past the knees. Uncle Chen led the way, followed by Qing Yan, Qing Huai, and Qing Song.

Finally arriving at the gravesite, Uncle Chen first cleared the snow from the graves and then swept a patch of ground to arrange the offerings.

There were a chicken, a fish, and a pork knuckle, three kinds of assorted pastries, a large basket of folded paper gold ingots, and a jar of wine.

Uncle Chen lit incense and candles, placing them beside each grave, chanting, "Ancestors, elders, the young master has come with money offerings for the New Year."

Chen Qingyan took off his cotton hat, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt on the ground to perform the kowtow. "Father, your son is unfilial. It has been a long time since I last visited you."

Chen Qingyan recounted the major events that had happened in the family over the years. He now had a child of his own, and as the saying goes, one doesn’t understand parental love until raising a child. Only after having Yuanbao did he realize how deep his father’s love for him had been.

"Father, rest assured, I will take good care of my younger siblings, raise Yuanbao well, and maintain the family's standing."

Chen Qingyan bowed deeply three times, and his younger brothers followed suit.

When their father passed away, Qing Song was still young. Now, after the New Year, he would be thirteen, gradually taking on the appearance of an adult. He silently vowed to study hard and achieve success, so as not to disappoint his teacher or bring shame to the family.

*

At home, Wang Ying, along with Qing Yun and Dunzi’s wife Zhang Cuihong, prepared the New Year’s Eve dinner.

There were twelve separate dishes in total—four cold and eight hot—each carefully selected to ensure a perfect balance of color, aroma, and taste.

The main food item was Chinese dumplings filled with cabbage and pork, neatly arranged and ready to be boiled in the evening.

After finishing the meal preparations, Wang Ying called Cuihong over, intending to give her something. This woman was shy and reserved, and since she started earning wages, she had refused to accept any extra food.

Coincidentally, there was a bolt of patterned cotton cloth in the storeroom that had gotten damp, causing the colors to bleed. It was no longer suitable for making clothes, so Wang Ying decided to give it to her.

"This... this is too valuable, I can’t accept it."

"Not at all. The colors on this cloth have bled, so it’s no longer usable for clothes. If you don’t take it, I’ll just cut it up for rags."

Only then did Zhang Cuihong accept it. She felt the soft, fine cloth and noticed the slight color bleeding, but it didn’t matter much—she could sew it into the children’s clothes.

"Thank you, employer," Cuihong said, kneeling and bowing deeply while holding the cloth.

Wang Ying quickly helped her up. "It’s nothing. Hurry back and prepare dinner for the children."

Cuihong left happily with the cloth in her arms. Outside, the sky grew dark, and occasional firecracker sounds could be heard, filling the air with the New Year's atmosphere.

By the end of the *Shen* hour (late afternoon), Chen Qingyan and the others returned from the mountain. Everyone began setting the table and boiling the dumplings. The family gathered together, with seven or eight oil lamps and candles lit in the room, making it brightly lit and cozy.

When the dumplings in the pot were cooked, Uncle Chen lit the firecrackers he had prepared earlier.

Amid the crackling sounds of the firecrackers, they welcomed another new year!